Mountain Bikers Charge to the Finish Line

About 340 riders took part in a Mountain Bike Race in the Skyline Forest Sunday.

Now in its 15th year, the annual Cascade Chainbreaker race attracts mountain bikers from Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Northern California.

It’s a cross-country course featuring riders of various skill levels — and it was perfect weather on Sunday.

The course is on private timberland and is not the most commonly ridden trail.

Event organizers say because there are very few mountain bike races in our area, this is what makes this race special.

“There’s only a couple mountain bike races in Bend these days,” said Kevin Gorman, event organizer. “The fact that we don’t have to drive anywhere for a big race — it’s between this and Picketts Charge, those are the two big mountain bike races now.”

The course consisted of a 3.5-mile starter loop and then a 11.5-mile lap with various twists and turns.

Hot dogs, chips and soda were served to the racers after the finish.

And this year, a portion of each registration fee was donated to Special Olympics Oregon.